Attorneys general from Massachusetts and New Hampshire warned Market Basket on Thursday that it must follow workers'-rights regulations if any employees are terminated, as could be the case as the company advertises store manager and other positions.

The company's CEOs said in a statement responding to a letter from the attorneys general they "hope sincerely that we do not discharge any employees."

Hundreds of employees rallied outside the chain's Tewksbury headquarters on Thursday, a day after Market Basket management said it would hold job fairs starting Monday for some headquarters positions and store managers.

Market Basket employees rally at the company's headquarters on East Street in Tewksbury Thursday. Employees chanted "scab, go home" when a truck driven by what they said was a replacement worker turned into a driveway leading to the company's warehouse. On an unrelated matter, two Leominster residents have filed suit against Market Basket. Read it at lowellsun.com. sun/Grant Welker

Many said they took word of the job fair and a quote on behalf of the CEOs -- "we need associates to return to work" on Aug. 4 -- as a threat.

"It was another scare tactic," said Cindy Whelan of Seabrook, N.H., a manager in the Epping, N.H., store. "I'm not concerned at all."

Mike Pieslak, an assistant manager at the Bellingham store, said he wasn't threatened and wouldn't change his stance in support for ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. He called the company's job-fair posting a "last resort" to try to get workers back.

"We have them up against the wall," said Pieslak, a 34-year employee.

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The letter to Market Basket's co-CEOs and board Chairman Keith Cowan from attorneys general Martha Coakley of Massachusetts and Joseph Foster of New Hampshire warned the company to carefully consider the effects of its decisions as the chain goes through a widespread employee upheaval.

"Your decisions, of course, directly impact thousands of employees and thousands of customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire," they said. "Those decisions also have serious implications for the many small businesses that supply your stores or otherwise rely on a close business relationship with Market Basket for their livelihood."

Store managers and former front-office workers have estimated the chain could be losing $10 million or more per day during the two-week boycott, including lost sales and expired unsold food. Many workers have taken sick or vacation days to rally for Demoulas and others have done so on their days off.

On a normal Thursday, the Tewksbury warehouse would likely have 120 deliveries, said Steve Paulenka, a senior manager fired July 20 after four decades with the company. Rallying outside the building, he said he counted only about 10. Rallying workers chanted "scab, go home" when drivers who they said were replacement workers drove to and from the warehouse.

Coakley and Foster said they received "an uptick" in calls from Market Basket employees worried about their workers' rights. They told Market Basket in their letter that fired workers must be paid all due wages at the time of termination in Massachusetts, or within 72 hours in New Hampshire.

The company's executives quickly issued a response through the media.

"We are focused solely on getting Market Basket stores back up and running for our customers and, importantly, for the many local vendors that rely on Market Basket to make their own businesses successful for the sake of their employees," they said. "We respect the attorneys general position, and would of course follow all applicable laws."

Thursday's rally included many employees who said Demoulas' dedication to his workers deserved their support after he was fired June 23. Demoulas, a major shareholder, has made a bid to buy out the company but the board of directors has said it is still reviewing that and other offers.

Jack Sullivan, a Fitchburg resident and employee of 44 years, told stories about how Demoulas would give him paid time off when his young son was ill. Demoulas also attended his mother's wake even though he had never met her, he said.

Sullivan said he was still surprised each time Demoulas would even remember him.

"He blows my mind every time he does it," he said. "I don't think he remembers my name but then he does. That's why I'm here."

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